Tuesday Talks

“Who cares about toilets? 3.6 billion people do. Because they don’t have one that works properly.“ That is the starting point of this 2021 Campaign for World Toilet Day, taking place on November 19th. The Observance celebrates toilets and raises awareness of the 3.6 billion people living without access to safely managed sanitation.

When some people in a community do not have safe toilets, everyone’s health is threatened. Poor sanitation contaminates drinking-water sources, rivers, beaches and food crops, spreading deadly diseases among the wider population. Even though sanitation is a human right recognized by the United Nations, we urgently need massive investment and innovation to quadruple progress all along the ‘sanitation chain’, from toilets to the transport, collection and treatment of human waste.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are creating innovative approaches to sanitation and fighting for access to toilets for everyone.

Storytelling is one of the most powerful means that individuals have to influence, teach, and inspire. Effective storytelling forges connections between people, places and ideas.

Stories convey culture, history, and values that unite people. When it comes to our countries, communities, and families, we understand intuitively that the stories we hold in common are an important part of the ties that bind. And in many cases, they shape the ways we understand ourselves and the world around us.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are creating spaces for communities to understand and embrace their stories as a way to make positive change within themselves and the world.

World Savings Day was established on October 31, 1924 with a goal of promoting individuals and economies to save money and create spaces of economic mobility. Saving money is important because it helps protect you in the event of a financial emergency. Additionally, saving money can help you pay for large purchases, avoid debt, reduce your financial stress, leave a financial legacy, and provide you with a greater sense of financial freedom.

With all of these benefits in mind one might ask the question, “why do so many people have trouble saving money?”. There are a number of different  factors that have negative impacts on an individual's ability to save money including inequalities, lack of knowledge related to financial literacy, economic and political instability and many others.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are creating spaces for financial mobility and economic empowerment to thrive.

Homelessness is a global challenge. The United Nations estimates that 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing, and the best data available suggest that more than 100 million people have no housing at all. Homelessness is growing in many parts of the world, occurs in all nations, and has severe negative impacts on individuals and on communities.

Homelessness is a complex issue, sitting at the intersection of public health, housing affordability, domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse, racial and gender discrimination, and unemployment. But a number of innovative approaches to homelessness are creating both short-term and long-term solutions.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are breaking down stigmas around homelessness and building a world where everyone has access to safe and adequate shelter.

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

The theme for International Day of Girl Child 2021 is 'Digital generation'. While the pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for learning, earning and connecting, some 2.2 billion people below the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home. Girls are more likely to be cut off. The gender gap for global internet users grew from 11 per cent in 2013 to 17 per cent in 2019. In the world’s least developed countries, it hovers around 43 per cent.

But the gender digital divide is about more than connectivity. Girls are also less likely than boys to use and own devices, and gain access to tech-related skills and jobs. Only by addressing the inequity and exclusion that span geographies and generations can we usher in a digital revolution for all, with all.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are building a more equitable world for girls everywhere.

The concept of traditional education has changed radically in recent years. With tremendous increases in access to the internet and new technologies, being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only learning option anymore. Virtual learning has taken on a whole new meaning during the COVID pandemic. School closures have been a common tool in the battle against COVID-19. Yet, their costs and benefits remain insufficiently known.

According to UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) the COVID-19 pandemic impacted close to half the world’s students by partial or full school closures, and over 100 million additional children will fall below the minimum proficiency level in reading as a result of the health crisis.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women who are leading the way in the future of education.

Hispanic & Latino/a/x Heritage Month is commemorated in the US from September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the community.

The month has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. During this month we also celebrate and highlight the immense diversity within the culture and push for all individuals within the community.

Today we’ll expand the conversation into a global celebration of the contributions, experiences and aspirations of the broader diaspora.

So, in today’s conversation we will give space to amazing and pioneering women within the community.

Labor movements grew out of the need to protect the common interest of workers. For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement also led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.

We live in a global economy that is characterized by an unprecedented rise in global trade, investment, distribution of production, and global corporations. As we continue to build a global community of workers, people and organizations are fighting for the rights of individuals within every sector.

So, in today’s conversation we will discuss how labor movements have shaped our understanding of workers’ rights and how we might continue to fight for better labor standards across the globe.

A humanitarian disaster occurs when the human, physical, economic or environmental damage from an event, or series of events, overwhelms a community’s capacity to cope. These disasters can take many forms including; natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes as well as human conflict.

We are living in a time where we are constantly dealing with multiple global crises, and with the pandemic still impacting communities it seems like the world is becoming overwhelmed. From the recent events in Afghanistan to the earthquake in Haiti and now the Hurricane in the US Gulf Coast, communities are continuing to battle disasters with sometimes limited to no resources.

So, in today’s conversation we will discuss how organizations and communities are finding solutions to a number of humanitarian crises and how others can get involved.

Health care is always on the minds of the public, usually ranking among the top 3 concerns. The pandemic has surely shed light on the imperfections of the global healthcare systems and even more light on the need for more equitable access. As countries begin reopening, despite ongoing challenges around the pandemic, we must continue to ask ourselves how we will improve healthcare and guide better health policy?

It is difficult to answer this question with certainty. What we do know for sure is that everyone in our world is impacted by these important decisions. International crisis, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are all placing enormous strain on the global healthcare sector’s workforce, infrastructure, and supply chain, and exposing social inequities in health and care.

So, in today’s conversation we will discuss the future of healthcare systems and what changes we may be seeing in the near future.